Lambley/Woodthorpe group 1976

Line up 1:
Steve McCauley (15): Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Phil McCauley (14): Lead Guitar, Vocals
Rick Common (14): Drums
Chris Hillary (15): Bass Guitar

Ages as of the summer of 1976

Line up 2:
Steve McCauley: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Phil McCauley: Lead Guitar, Vocals
Mark Black: Drums
Phil Thompson: Bass Guitar

Brothers Steve and Phil were self taught and had written around 50 songs ranging from rock and pop. Both were from Woodthorpe in Notts. Both Chris and Rick were from Lambley and Rick Common had been playing drums since he was nine.

Rick Common: “My Dad was a skiffle drummer so music was in the family. The first band in Lambley, I was in, was basically friends messing around, managing one appearance at the Youth Club (under the name ‘Squadron‘)”. “I went to the Riverside Rock Extravaganza in 1975. One of my first live gigs. I saw Limelight a few years later reborn as NWOBHM band at a one day festival headlined by Hawkwind! I recall they moved the annual Extravaganza indoors in 1976 to the Victoria Leisure Centre. I am sure I went to that one and recall Gaffa and Morris Convertible. I was very much into prog rock so my heroes were Phil Collins, Carl Palmer and Chris Cutler (I even decorated my kit like his)“.

In June 1976 about 30 pupils from Henry Mellish School took part in a rock drama called “Teen Dream” at the ICC (International Community Centre) on Mansfield Road, Nottingham. Some songs were written by pupils of Highbury Vale School and Metronome also wrote music and played. They had previously had three sell out nights at Henry Mellish School where all but Phil were studying.

As a result they were added to a prestigious bill at the Albert Hall, Nottingham opening for Six Hands In Tempo, Magna Carta and Pam Ayers.

On the 19th July 1976 they played a gig at the “Heart Of The Midland” (Later to become Rock City) with proceeds from the show going to a Woodthorpe Youth Club project. Top of the bill was former Paper Lace star Carlo Santana. They played a few times as a support act at the Heart Of The Midland and headlined on October 22nd 1976 by which time the line up had changed with Mark Black and Phil Thompson replacing Rick Common and Chris Hillary. Rick Common joined Dark Star in 1978.

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